Korean Job Discussion Forums

[adventureman]

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[ghostshadow]

I just want to know how many native teachers are there at your school? So far you make it sound like you're the only native English speaking teacher.

[Flex Bulkchest]

I don't know man, that sucks to here that you've had such a trying year. I guess most of us came here with that unbridled optimism, so it's kind of sad hearing your disappointment. I've definitely had some difficult korea days...when you wanted to throw students from the window for calling you "babo"...but all in all it's been a great time. It's hard that for most of us when we came here, back in the day, it was a real crap shoot as to what we were expecting. I suspect that using your new found understanding of Korea you could easily find a more interesting position

[peppermint]

I understand your complaints adventureman- totally. . as Ive said, we're pretty much in the same boat.

I think entering the public system is a rough gig your first time out, if you want to stay in country, you might consider a hagwon deal. Its far from ideal but there are a different set of problems there, and sometimes a change is as good as a rest.

The kids are afraid to make mistakes here, but give them very small managable tasks and lots of praise, and you'll see the differences. I spent most of my day passing a giant spongy dice to children in grade 3 and having them say "thank you". Tedious as all hell, but effective.

[captain kirk]

Yeah, public school is a horse and pony show. But it was good in that I still recall the excitement and appreciation of alot of the kids in the classes because when the co-teacher and I did our show it was something different for them. This was in Taiwan, and in elementary school (taught grade one and four). The kids were in classes of 35 kids and spent the day in the same room with the same homeroom teacher. We must have been like gypsies in a travelling circus to them. The homeroom teacher usually just took off since their responsibilities were lifted for an hour. Some stuck around and acted as a co-teacher. That was pretty cool.
I divided the class into two halves and two teams. For the whole semester one side of the room was some 'animal team' vs. the other side of the room's animal team. And drew the animals elaborately with four different colours of chalk. I can draw well and this was something creative and they liked the weird animal drawings.
A change is as good as a holiday. The horse and pony show can get tiresome after a semester. Repeat shows all day delivering the same lesson. I found the worst was Christmas. Pretending to be excited about it and at the same time sort of feeling homesick . The kids in Taiwan have never seen snow. So Christmas is some kind of exotic thing to them, some weird time of weird snow all over the place.

[Demophobe]

Really sorry to hear about your woes, mate. I think we have all been down that road.

It will either lead you back home, or to a renewal through adjusting your goals here.

I came here with absolutely no clue of why, how or what I was going to do. All I knew is that I needed to get out of Canada and do something meaningful.

My problem came when I found out that the "meaningful" aspect had to be within me, and not from anything external like my students, co-workers, or even other foreigners here. I had friends that left, students who weren't getting better (though I had some wonderfully amazing kids and co-workers in my first year teaching...I still talk to them 8 years later!) and feeling outside of everything.

So, I re-thought my ideas and found that they were so based on others behavior, they were doomed to fail. I needed to look inside for gratification, because I can count on myself, God and my wife.

So, I started living here for new reasons...all my own. I found study, hobbies and the unique gift offered here....isolation. I enjoy being alone immensely now, unlike when I arrived. This "outside"ness is a rare opportunity, one not afforded back home. Fill the time well, and it's time well-spent.

I don't want to be long-winded and preachy here, but I really think that if you want to hang around here for any longer, re-create yourself, or at least, re-define your goals. Choose the fruit that the tree bears, not pine for what isn't on the branch or what is out of your reach.

That being said, everytime I feel out of hope or do feel that this tree isn't to my taste, something happens to re-affirm that what I came here intending to do is still do-able, just not in the "earth-shattering kaboom" way I had perhaps envisioned. It was far more subtle and sublime...one student out of 200, one person in a thousand...they are tough odds, but playable.

Good luck, and don't keep looking down for too long. A bit of a cry is a release; too much is just self-indulgent.

You have a lot going for you...although I don't know you, I have no doubt that you are a really lucky person.

[rapier]

We've all been there man- and probably will again. After 2 years here, I believe the key is not to place too much seriousness on results in your teaching- but on just having fun while you're at it. Let your general satisfaction in life come from things such as watching your bank balance grow, and developing a rewarding social life, and your hobbies (fishing/travel, whatever).

Teaching is only one piece of the jigsaw over here. Develop the other parts of your life, and it will become less and less significant wether your kids can speak in full sentences or not. Stop caring too much.

[posco's trumpet]

I sympathize with you. I've been there.... a lot. On the other hand, sometime you'll get what I did today.

On the last day of a special advanced class on business communications I'm teaching (at Y. University), I received a card from the students in one section. They all signed the card and wrote extensive comments/thanks.

All of these students are truly advanced, but I want to share some of the comments with you. I'm not doing it to blow my own horn, but because I think this is one of the best gifts I have EVER received.

I'm going to keep the card close at hand for the next time I feel the way you do now (and I know I will feel that way soon enough).

If the students in the classes I taught today at another university saw this, they probably couldn't disagree more. It's perspective, chemistry, and so much more, but days like this keep me going.

[snufalufagus]

The problem lies in the fact that many foreign ESL instructors/teachers take the job as a passing fancy, a time to cruise, make some quick cash, running from this or that, etc ... if you don't take the job seriously enough to begin with, take it as a passing year long career and the like, it's hard to make it succesful for yourself. Teaching is only a part of the jigsaw ? That is the problem ... it's not taken seriously to begin with, thus doomed for disappointment

[Grotto]

You are correct it is not taken seriously......often by the hogwans themselves

It is difficult for teachers to come in work out lesson plans, make worksheets, plan a curriculum and be told not to use it as it is too stressful for the students.

It is often the schools lack of knowledge that makes teaching a bigger chore than it should be.

[Demophobe]

[rapier]

POSCO: don't get too happy. I've had all the same cards and gifts etc...we love you, blah blah. Most of them had help from the korean teachers to write them, and the same kids behave like animals.
Most Koreans are not genuine, especially the kids,- but they are trained in the importance of creating a good impression and image.
I take whatever creative BS they write with apinch of salt, unless its from a student who I know has been exceptional and impressed me.

[snufalufagus]

Yes, both previous posts are correct ! I was however, referring to the scene as a whole, not the individual.

I rarely make my comments directed toward an individual, but rather to the condition, the problem itself ... as opposed to ... well I think I made my point.

[Demophobe]

[Demophobe]